Tedder.



PATENTED SEPT. 12, 1905.

H. O. RICHMOND.

TEDDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21.1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

8 m undo;

PATENTED SEPT. 12, 1905.

H. C. RICHMOND.

TEDDER.

APPLICATION FILED rm. 21,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

TEDDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1905.

Application filed February 21, 1905. Serial N01 246,698-

To (L-ZZ [Mm/1t it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY C. RICHMOND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cameron, in the county of Marshall and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tedders, of which the following is a specification.

This nvention has for its object to devise a novel form of tedder adapted for use in coiinection with reapers and mowers for spreading hay or grain simultaneously with the cutting operation, thereby saving time and labor. 7

The invention is in the nature of an attachment and is adapted to be readily coupled to and disconnected from a mower or reaper, thereby admitting of the implement being used solely for cutting grain when so required or for spreading the grain when cutting the same should it be required to cure the same in the field in the well-known ianner.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which 7 Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a tedder connected in accordance with this in vention as it will appear when applied to a mower or reaper of ordinary construction. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the tedder. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the tedder on the line .r a. of Fig. 2, the remote kicker and cooperating parts being omitted. Figs. 1 and 5 are respectively a front view and a vertical section of a kicker embodying the invention, the upper portion being broken away.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same re fcrence characters.

The numeral 1 indicates a mower or reaper of ordinary construction and is illustrated simply to demonstrate the application of the invention.

The tcdder comprises longitudinal bars 2 and a connecting cross-bar 3, the latter form ing a substantial framework for supporting the operating parts. The front ends of the bars 2 are provided with couplings 4 of any structural type for loosely connecting the tedder to the axle or other convenient part of the mower or reaper. A caster-wheel 5 of any structural type supports the teddcr and is fitted to a post 6 or kindred part pendent from the cross bar 3. A compound crank-shaft 7 is journaled in bearings at the rear ends of the longitudinal bars 2, and its crank portions are set at dill'erent angles to admit of the kickers coming into play in successive order. An end portion of the crank-shaft 7 is extended and terminates in a crankarm 8, which in conjunction witha rod or bar 9 and a standard 10 holds the crank-shaf t and kickers stationary when the attachment is lifted so as to clear the ground.

A series of kickers are mounted upon the crank portions of the crank-shaft 7, and their upper ends are connected by rods 11 to the cross-bar 3. Each of the kickers is similarly constructed and comprises a pivoted fork 12, supporting-bar 13, and tensionspring 14. The bars 13 are mounted between their ends upon the respective crank portions of the shaft 7 and their lower ends have rear extensions 15, to which the forks 12 are pivoted, the upper ends or shanks of the forks lying against the bars 13 and braced thereby. The springs 14 have connection with the upper ends of the forkshanks to hold the forks in working position under normal conditions and admit of their yielding when meeting with an obstruction, so as to clear the same without straining or otherwise disabling the machine.

\Vhen in service, the shaft 7 has a rotary motion imparted thereto, and for this purpose a sprocket-wheel 16, fast thereto, is connected by sprocket-chain 17 with a sprocketwheel 18, fast to the axle or other rotating part of the mower or reaper. The sprocketwheel 18 is in axial alincment with the pivotal connection of the teddcr attachment of the mower or reaper, so as to admit of raising and lowering said attachment without varying the tension of the sprocket-chain 17. For convenience of raising and lowering the attachment a standard 19 is projected upward from the cross-bar 3 and is connected, by means of a rod or bar 20, with a lever 21, provided upon the mower or reaper and extended within convenient reach of the drivers seat, whereby the tedder may be raised or lowered without necessitating dismounting of the driver.

In accordance with this invention a ted der attachment embodying the novel features set forth is coupled to a mower or reaper in such a manner as to admit of its being raised or lowered by means of the lever 21 and of rotary motion being applied to the shaft 7 from the axle or other rotating part of the machine. As the mower or like implement is drawn over the field and the grain is cut the forks of the kickers pick up the grain and scatter the same in the well-known manner to admit of air and light reaching every part for thorough and effective curing. l/Vhen desired, a rod or bar 9 may connect the crank-arm 8 with the standard 10, so as to hold the kickers stationary when not in service. Obviously when,the connection 9 is in position the driving mechanism of the shaft 7 must be thrown out of action either by unshipping the drive-chain 17 or by throwing one or the other of the sprocketwheels 16 or 18 out of action, which may beeffected in any of the usual ways.

the attachment, and a bar for connecting the standard and the aforesaid crank-arm to hold the tedder mechanism out of action when the said tedder attachment is elevated, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY O. RICHMOND. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

J. E. MAsoN, S. W. MoOARDLE. 

